Paper tube external inspection equipment

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model provides paper tube external inspection equipment which comprises a conveying ramp, an appearance inspection mechanism and a sorting mechanism, the conveying ramp comprises a pair of sliding rails arranged in parallel at a preset interval, and each sliding rail comprises a contact face formed by a bottom plate and extending in the length direction of the sliding rail and a vertical plane formed by side plates; a paper tube to be detected is fed into one end of the transmission ramp in a posture of being axially vertical to the vertical plane, and is limited by the side plates of the pair of sliding rails to move or roll on the contact surface; the transmission ramp comprises a front section located on the upstream of the transmission direction and a sliding section connected with the front section. And the sorting mechanism is arranged beside the conveying ramp on the downstream of the detection area and comprises a sorting plate, and the sorting plate is used for separating the target paper tubes from the sliding rails so as to be separated from the conveying ramp. According to the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the invention, the appearance defects of the paper tube can be efficiently and comprehensively detected in the rolling advancing process of the paper tube, the complexity of a production line is reduced, and the detection efficiency and reliability are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of spinning technology, and in particular to a paper tube external inspection device. Background Technology

[0002] In the spinning industry, paper tubes play a crucial role as the winding shaft for yarn spindles. A groove (also called a groove line or cut) needs to be cut into the paper tube. This groove provides a path to help the yarn more easily engage and be secured within the paper tube at the beginning of winding. In other words, the groove acts as a fixing point for the yarn, preventing slippage or detachment during winding and ensuring yarn stability and winding quality. The quality of the paper tube directly affects the winding quality and production efficiency. Any incorrect operation during the groove cutting process can result in grooves that do not meet the required shape, thus affecting the performance of the paper tube and the winding effect of the yarn. Utility Model Content

[0003] This disclosure provides an external inspection device for paper tubes to solve or alleviate one or more technical problems in the prior art.

[0004] As one aspect of this disclosure, this embodiment provides a paper tube external inspection device, including:

[0005] The conveying ramp includes a pair of parallel slide rails arranged at a preset interval. Each slide rail includes a contact surface formed by a base plate extending along the length of the slide rail and a vertical plane formed by side plates. The paper tube to be inspected is fed into one end of the conveying ramp with its axial direction perpendicular to the vertical plane and is limited by the side plates of the pair of slide rails to move or roll on the contact surface. The conveying ramp includes a front section located upstream in the conveying direction and a sliding section connected to the front section.

[0006] The appearance inspection mechanism includes a housing and an inspection probe. The inspection probe is positioned above the sliding section and faces the slide rail of the sliding section. The area covered by the detection range of the inspection probe in the transmission ramp is the inspection area. The housing surrounds the inspection probe and the inspection area. The housing at both ends of the inspection area is provided with an entrance and exit for the paper tube to be inspected to enter and exit. When the paper tube to be inspected passes through the inspection area, its appearance features are collected by the inspection probe.

[0007] The sorting mechanism is located next to the conveyor ramp downstream of the inspection area. The sorting mechanism includes a sorting plate, which is used to separate the target paper tube from the slide rail so that it can be removed from the conveyor ramp.

[0008] The preset spacing is matched with the height of the paper tube to be inspected and is greater than the diameter of the paper tube to be inspected.

[0009] In one embodiment, the contact surfaces of a pair of slide rails located in the detection zone are provided with a resistance layer, the resistance layer having a first coefficient of friction greater than the coefficient of friction of the contact surfaces of the slide rails, so that the paper tube to be inspected rolls when passing through the detection zone; wherein, the length of the detection zone is greater than the circumference of the paper tube.

[0010] In one implementation, the tilt angle between the two ends of the sliding segment is greater than the tilt angle of the preceding segment.

[0011] In one embodiment, a blocking mechanism is provided at the end of the front section, which is used to allow the paper tubes to be inspected to enter the sliding section at intervals.

[0012] In one embodiment, the blocking mechanism includes a telescopic claw and a first driving device. Under the drive of the first driving device, the front end of the telescopic claw probes into the forward direction of the paper tube to be inspected at a preset time interval to block the paper tube to be inspected located in the front section from entering the sliding section.

[0013] In one embodiment, the blocking mechanism includes a rocker plate disposed between a pair of slide rails. The rocker plate includes a first protrusion located upstream in the transmission direction, a second protrusion located downstream in the transmission direction, and a middle portion between the two. The middle portion is connected to the pair of slide rails via a pivot. The first and second protrusions swing about the pivot so that the highest point of the first or second protrusion drops to the plane of the contact surface of the corresponding slide rail. The middle portion can accommodate a paper tube to be inspected. Each reciprocating swing of the rocker plate allows one paper tube to be inspected to enter the sliding section.

[0014] In one embodiment, the blocking mechanism includes a reset device, which includes a motor and an eccentric wheel connected to the output shaft of the motor. A reset rod is provided at the lower part of the rocker, and the end of the reset rod is suspended on one side of the eccentric wheel. Whenever the eccentric wheel rotates to the target position, it drives the reset rod to move so that the first protrusion descends.

[0015] In one embodiment, the sorting mechanism includes a second drive unit connected to a sorting plate disposed inside any slide rail of the conveyor ramp. The second drive unit is used to rapidly lift at least a portion of the sorting plate above the contact surface, so that when the target paper tube passes through the sorting area where the sorting mechanism is located, the target paper tube will rotate non-axially due to one end being blocked by the sorting plate.

[0016] In one embodiment, the slide rail at the location of the sorting area is provided with an outward extension, and the side plate of the outward extension is bent outward.

[0017] In one embodiment, the sorting plate is a strip-shaped flat plate, which replaces the bottom plate of one side slide rail of the sorting area. A rotating shaft is provided at one end of the sorting plate near the upstream side, and a lever is provided on one side of the rotating shaft. The lever matches the output shaft of the second drive device.

[0018] In one embodiment, the sorting mechanism includes a third drive device connected to a sorting plate. The width of the sorting plate is the same as the width of the base plate. The slide rail of the sorting area does not have a base plate. The two ends of the sorting plate abut against the upper and lower and downstream base plates of the sorting area, respectively, to replace the base plate of the slide rail of the sorting area. The third drive device is used to move the sorting plate in a direction perpendicular to the side plate, so that the sorting plate switches between the inner and outer sides of the side plate.

[0019] The embodiments of this disclosure employ the above-described technical solution, which can efficiently and comprehensively detect appearance defects of paper tubes during the rolling process, reducing the complexity of the production line and improving detection efficiency and reliability.

[0020] The above overview is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any way. Further aspects, embodiments, and features of this disclosure will become readily apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description, in addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above. Attached Figure Description

[0021] In the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise specified, the same reference numerals throughout the various drawings denote the same or similar parts or elements. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. It should be understood that these drawings depict only some embodiments provided according to this disclosure and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this disclosure.

[0022] Figure 1 This diagram shows a side view of a paper tube external inspection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 2 A top view schematic diagram of a paper tube external inspection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0024] Figure 3 A top view of a paper tube external inspection device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0025] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 10. Conveyor ramp; 11. Slide rail; 11a. Side plate; 11b. Base plate; 20. Appearance inspection mechanism; 12. Front section; 13. Sliding section; 14. Outer extension; 21. Housing; 22. Detection probe; 23. Resistance layer; 30. Sorting mechanism; 31. Sorting plate; 32. Third drive device; 33. Push block; 40. Paper tube to be inspected; 41. Cutting slit; 50. Blocking mechanism; 51. Rocker; 51a. First protrusion; 51b. Second protrusion; 51c. Middle section; 52. Second drive device. Detailed Implementation

[0026] In the following description, only certain exemplary embodiments are briefly described. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the described embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the drawings and description are to be considered exemplary in nature and not restrictive.

[0027] Figure 1 A side view of a paper tube external inspection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 2 A top view of the paper tube external inspection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the paper tube external inspection equipment includes:

[0028] The conveying ramp 10 includes a pair of parallel slide rails 11 arranged at a preset interval. Each slide rail 11 includes a contact surface formed by a base plate 11b extending along the length direction of the slide rail 11 and a vertical plane formed by a side plate 11a. The paper tube 40 to be inspected is fed into one end of the conveying ramp 10 with its axial direction perpendicular to the vertical plane, and is limited by the side plates 11a of the pair of slide rails to move or roll on the contact surface. The conveying ramp 10 includes a front section 12 located upstream in the conveying direction and a sliding section 13 connected to the front section 12.

[0029] The appearance inspection mechanism 20 includes a housing 21 and an inspection probe 22. The inspection probe 22 is positioned above the sliding section 13 and faces the slide rail 11 of the sliding section 13. The area covered by the detection range of the inspection probe 22 in the transmission ramp 10 is the inspection area. The housing 21 surrounds the inspection probe 22 and the inspection area. The housing 21 at both ends of the inspection area is provided with an entrance and exit for the paper tube 40 to be inspected to enter and exit. When the paper tube 40 to be inspected passes through the inspection area, its appearance features are collected by the inspection probe 22.

[0030] The sorting mechanism 30 is located next to the conveyor ramp 10 downstream of the detection area. The sorting mechanism 30 includes a sorting plate 31, which is used to cause the target paper tube to rotate non-axially so that the target paper tube falls out of the gap between a pair of slide rails 11 and leaves the conveyor ramp 10.

[0031] The preset spacing is matched with the height of the paper tube 40 to be inspected and is greater than the diameter of the paper tube 40 to be inspected.

[0032] In this embodiment, the paper tube 40 to be inspected is the paper tube that needs to undergo visual inspection after the wire grooves have been cut out. The inlet of the conveying ramp 10 is higher than the outlet, allowing the paper tube 40 to be inspected to move downstream by gravity upon entering the conveying ramp 10. The paper tube 40 to be inspected is cylindrical, and its height is usually greater than its diameter. A pair of slide rails 11 of the conveying ramp 10 can accommodate the paper tube 40 to be inspected, which is placed horizontally between the two slide rails 11 and slides or rolls downstream of the conveying ramp 10. The slide rail 11 includes a smooth side plate 11a and a bottom plate 11b perpendicularly connected to the side plate 11a. The upper surface of the bottom plate 11b is the contact surface with the paper tube. The contact surface can be relatively rough to increase the friction with the paper tube, so that the paper tube rolls rather than slides during movement. The front section 12 of the conveying ramp 10 can be understood as a preparation area for visual inspection. The front section 12 can be horizontal, and the preceding paper tube is pushed into the sliding section 13 by the subsequent paper tube. The front section 12 can also have a small slope, such as less than 10°. The sliding section 13 can be understood as a section with a certain slope so that the paper tube slides downstream by gravity, and visual inspection is carried out during the sliding process.

[0033] The detection probe 22 can be an image acquisition device and / or a laser detection device, etc. When the paper tube 40 to be inspected rolls through the inspection area, the appearance inspection mechanism 20 can use the detection probe 22 to collect the appearance features of the paper tube 40 to be inspected by means of shooting or recording, so as to determine whether there are defects in the appearance of the paper tube 40 to be inspected. Defects can include both the paper tube surface and the cut 41. Defects on the paper tube surface mainly include stains, damage and other abnormalities. Defects on the cut 41 mainly include the length, width and depth of the cut not being up to standard, or the paper tube at the edge of the cut 41 being damaged, causing the cut 41 to produce extra branches.

[0034] In one example, the detection probe 22 includes a laser detection system, with one or more laser emitters mounted above the detection area. The laser beam precisely illuminates the edge of the slit 41. The laser emitter works in conjunction with the detection probe 22 (such as a photoelectric sensor or camera), which receives and analyzes the laser reflection signal. A control system coordinates the operation of the laser emitter and the detection probe 22, ensuring that the laser beam emission and the probe reception are synchronized. When the paper tube enters the detection area, the laser emitter begins to emit a laser beam. The laser beam illuminates the edge of the slit 41, and as the paper tube rolls, the laser beam continuously sweeps across the edge of the slit 41. Due to the rotation of the paper tube, every part of the slit 41 is illuminated by the laser. The photoelectric sensor or camera receives the reflection signal of the laser beam at the edge of the slit 41. The received signal is analyzed by a signal processing unit. The system detects changes in the reflection of the laser beam at the edge of the slit 41, looking for any irregular forks or defects. If a camera is used, image processing technology can analyze the edge of the slit 41 to identify any non-standard shapes or forks. The system determines the presence of defects using a preset algorithm. A threshold is typically set, and products are deemed unqualified when the reflected signal or image features exceed the threshold. If a paper tube is deemed unqualified, the sorting mechanism 30, located downstream of the inspection area, will remove the paper tube from the transport ramp 10. This can usually be done by pushing the paper tube out of the track using a robotic arm or pusher, or by rotating it off the track.

[0035] In one example, the detection probe 22 is a vision inspection system. A high-resolution industrial camera is mounted above the inspection area to ensure clear capture of the paper tube's details. The vision inspection system includes an appropriate light source to provide uniform and sufficiently bright illumination to improve the camera's image quality. When the paper tube enters the inspection area, the vision inspection system begins image acquisition via sensor or time triggering. As the paper tube rolls, its entire circumference is captured and acquired by the camera. To ensure comprehensive inspection, multiple cameras can be continuously configured along the transport direction, each responsible for capturing a portion of the paper tube's surface image, such as 1 / 3 of its circumference. This allows the cameras to be positioned closer to the paper tube. If only one camera is used to capture the entire circumference of the paper tube, the camera would need to be farther away from the paper tube to cover the distance traveled in one rotation.

[0036] It should be noted that existing technologies require a conveyor belt to transport paper tubes to an external inspection unit. The external inspection unit then grips the paper tube with a rotary table or robotic gripper, rotating it once in place at the inspection station to capture a complete image of its appearance. During this process, the paper tube being inspected is stationary, and subsequent paper tubes can only proceed after the inspected paper tube has been inspected. In contrast, this embodiment eliminates the need for a conveyor belt, allowing the paper tube to roll along a ramp. It also eliminates the need for an additional rotary table or robotic gripper, reducing equipment purchase and maintenance costs. Continuous inspection can be performed as the paper tube rolls along the ramp without stopping to wait for completion, reducing inspection time and production line downtime.

[0037] According to the solution of this disclosure embodiment, the detection and transportation processes are integrated, which can efficiently and comprehensively detect quality problems of the cut 41 during the rolling of the paper tube, ensuring that only paper tubes that meet the standards continue to enter the next production stage, thereby improving production efficiency and product quality, reducing the complexity of the production line, and improving the reliability of the production line.

[0038] In one embodiment, a resistance layer 23 is provided on the contact surface of a pair of slide rails 11 located in the detection area. The resistance layer 23 has a first coefficient of friction, which is greater than the coefficient of friction of the contact surface of the slide rails 11, so that the paper tube 40 to be tested rolls when passing through the detection area; wherein, the length of the detection area is greater than the circumference of the paper tube.

[0039] In this embodiment, a material with a high coefficient of friction, such as a rubber pad, sandpaper, or other high-friction coating, is covered or adhered to the contact surfaces of a pair of slide rails 11 in the detection area. The first coefficient of friction of the resistance layer 23 is designed to be greater than the coefficient of friction of the contact surfaces of the slide rails 11 themselves, in order to increase the friction between the paper tube and the slide rails 11. When the paper tube enters the detection area, the increased friction between the paper tube and the slide rails 11 due to the action of the resistance layer 23 forces the paper tube to roll forward on the ramp instead of sliding.

[0040] The length of the detection zone is designed to be greater than the circumference of the paper tube to ensure that the detection probe 22 can fully scan the outer surface of the paper tube during one rotation. The length of the resistance layer 23 should match the length of the detection zone.

[0041] According to the scheme of this embodiment, a comprehensive appearance inspection can be performed on the paper tube as it rolls forward within the inspection area. The setting of the resistance layer 23 ensures the rolling of the paper tube, and the length of the inspection area ensures the coverage of the inspection, realizing an efficient and accurate inspection process, reducing physical interference to the paper tube, and improving production efficiency and product quality.

[0042] In one embodiment, the tilt angle between the two ends of the sliding segment 13 is greater than the tilt angle of the front segment 12.

[0043] In this embodiment, the inclination angle between the two ends of the sliding section 13 is designed to be greater than that of the front section 12. This increases the rolling speed of the paper tube after it enters the sliding section 13. The paper tube enters the sliding section 13 and gains acceleration, allowing two consecutive paper tubes to maintain a certain distance, preventing the front and rear paper tubes from being too close together and affecting the detection of the detection probe 22. The front section 12 and the sliding section 13 can be connected by a hinge structure, allowing the slope of the two ramps to be adjusted independently. By adjusting the slope of the front section 12 and the sliding section 13, it is ensured that the paper tube can roll stably within the detection area, without slipping due to an insufficient slope or accelerating too quickly due to an excessively large slope, which could lead to inaccurate detection.

[0044] According to the embodiments of this disclosure, the large tilt angle of the sliding section 13 ensures that the paper tube can roll quickly within the detection area, thereby improving the detection speed. The hinged connection between the front section 12 and the sliding section 13 makes the slope adjustment more flexible, adaptable to different production needs, and ensures the efficiency, accuracy, and stability of the detection process.

[0045] In one embodiment, the end of the front section 12 is provided with a blocking mechanism 50, which is used to allow the paper tubes to be inspected 40 to enter the sliding section 13 at intervals.

[0046] In this embodiment, a blocking mechanism 50 is provided at the end of the front section 12, located before the paper tube enters the sliding section 13. The blocking mechanism 50 is used to control the interval of the paper tube entering the sliding section 13, ensuring that there is a certain distance between two consecutive paper tubes.

[0047] According to the scheme of this disclosure embodiment, the blocking mechanism 50 ensures that the paper tube has a certain distance when entering the sliding section 13, avoiding the problem of blind spots or repeated detection caused by the detection probe 22 due to the paper tube being too close during the detection process.

[0048] In one embodiment, the blocking mechanism 50 includes a telescopic claw and a first driving device. Under the drive of the first driving device, the front end of the telescopic claw probes into the forward direction of the paper tube 40 to be inspected at a preset time interval to block the paper tube 40 to be inspected located in the front section 12 from entering the sliding section 13.

[0049] In this embodiment, the blocking mechanism 50 can be in the form of a telescopic claw. The first driving device can be a cylinder or a motor. The front end of the telescopic claw extends into the forward direction of the paper tube within a preset time interval, blocking the paper tube from entering the sliding section 13. The telescopic claw can be driven by a cylinder or a motor to ensure precise and rapid operation. The extension time interval of the telescopic claw is set by the control system to ensure the paper tube enters at intervals.

[0050] When the paper tube reaches the end of the front section 12, the telescopic claw extends to block the paper tube from moving forward, ensuring that the paper tubes are queued in the front section 12. After a preset time interval, the telescopic claw retracts, allowing one paper tube to enter the sliding section 13, ensuring that there is a certain distance between the paper tubes.

[0051] According to the scheme of this embodiment, the blocking mechanism 50 can precisely control the timing of the paper tube entering the sliding section 13, which improves the accuracy and efficiency of detection and ensures the stability and continuity of the paper tube during the detection process.

[0052] In one embodiment, the blocking mechanism 50 includes a rocker 51 disposed between a pair of slide rails 11. The rocker 51 includes a first protrusion 51a located upstream in the transmission direction, a second protrusion 51b located downstream in the transmission direction, and a middle portion 51c between the two. The middle portion 51c is connected to the pair of slide rails 11 via a pivot. The first protrusion 51a and the second protrusion 51b swing about the pivot so that the highest point of the first protrusion 51a or the second protrusion 51b drops to the plane of the contact surface of the corresponding slide rail 11. The middle portion 51c can accommodate a paper tube 40 to be inspected. Each time the rocker 51 swings back and forth, it allows a paper tube 40 to be inspected to enter the sliding section 13.

[0053] In this embodiment, the center of gravity of the rocker 51 is set on one side of the first protrusion 51a, such that in its natural state, the first protrusion 51a droops and the second protrusion 51b tilts upwards. In the initial state, the first protrusion 51a of the rocker 51 droops and the second protrusion 51b tilts upwards, allowing the paper tube to enter the middle section 51c of the rocker 51 from the first protrusion 51a. When the paper tube reaches the end of the front section 12, it naturally slides into the middle section 51c of the rocker 51. Influenced by the tilt angle of the front section 12, the paper tube continues to roll, passing the middle section 51c of the rocker 51 and abutting against the side of the second protrusion 51b. The weight of the paper tube changes the balance of the rocker 51's center of gravity, causing the second protrusion 51b to descend and the first protrusion 51a to tilt upwards. After the first protrusion 51a tilts upwards, it blocks subsequent paper tubes from entering the rocker 51, ensuring that paper tubes enter the sliding section 13 at intervals. Because the tilt angle of the sliding section 13 is greater than that of the front section 12, the paper tube will accelerate its rolling after entering the sliding section 13, ensuring that it can pass through the detection area quickly.

[0054] According to the scheme of this embodiment, the gravity balance control of the rocker 51 ensures that the paper tube maintains a certain distance when rolling in the detection area, avoids the front and rear paper tubes from getting too close, and improves the stability and continuity of the paper tube in the detection process.

[0055] In one embodiment, the blocking mechanism 50 includes a reset device, which includes a motor and an eccentric wheel connected to the output shaft of the motor. A reset rod is provided at the lower part of the rocker plate 51, and the end of the reset rod is suspended on one side of the eccentric wheel. Whenever the eccentric wheel rotates to the target position, it drives the reset rod to move so that the first protrusion 51a descends.

[0056] In this embodiment, the center of gravity of the rocker 51 is positioned near the downstream second protrusion 51b, so that in its natural state, the first protrusion 51a is tilted up, preventing the paper tube from entering the rocker 51. The reset device includes a motor and an eccentric wheel connected to the motor's output shaft. A reset rod is provided at the lower part of the rocker 51, with its end suspended on one side of the eccentric wheel. The eccentric wheel is designed to drive the reset rod to reciprocate during rotation.

[0057] In its natural state, the end of the reset rod is within the rotational range of the eccentric wheel. When the eccentric wheel rotates to a certain angle, it can contact the end of the reset rod, pushing it out of its rotational range as it rotates. Specifically, when the eccentric wheel rotates to the target position, it moves the reset rod, causing the first protrusion 51a of the rocker 51 to descend, allowing the paper tube to enter the middle section 51c of the rocker 51. After the paper tube enters the middle section 51c, the second protrusion 51b descends, and the first protrusion 51a rises, blocking subsequent paper tube entry. When the second protrusion 51b descends to its lowest point, the paper tube can pass over it and enter the sliding section 13. Afterward, as the eccentric wheel continues to rotate and separates from the reset rod, the reset rod can reset itself by gravity, the first protrusion 51a descends, and the second protrusion 51b rises. The above process is repeated when the eccentric wheel rotates to the target position again.

[0058] According to the scheme of this embodiment, the reset device realizes the intermittent entry of the paper tube through the cooperation of the motor and the eccentric wheel. The timing of the paper tube entering the sliding section 13 is controlled by the time interval of the eccentric wheel rotation, which improves the controllability of the detection process and ensures that the detection probe 22 is not affected by the excessive closeness of the front and rear paper tubes during the detection process.

[0059] In one embodiment, the sorting mechanism 30 includes a second drive device 52 connected to a sorting plate 31, which is disposed inside any slide rail 11 of the conveyor ramp 10. The second drive device 52 is used to quickly lift at least a portion of the sorting plate 31 above the contact surface, so that when the target paper tube passes through the sorting area where the sorting mechanism 30 is located, the target paper tube will rotate non-axially because one end of it is blocked by the sorting plate 31.

[0060] In this embodiment, the target paper tube can be understood as a paper tube that is visually defective and needs to be removed from the production line. The sorting mechanism 30 includes a second drive device 52, such as a cylinder or motor, for rapidly controlling the movement of the sorting plate 31. The sorting plate 31 is disposed inside any slide rail 11 of the conveyor ramp 10, typically at the inner edge of the slide rail 11. When the detection system identifies a defective paper tube (target paper tube), the second drive device 52 is activated, rapidly lifting at least a portion of the sorting plate 31 above the contact surface of the slide rail 11. The height to which the sorting plate 31 is lifted is sufficient to block the rolling path of the target paper tube. When the target paper tube rolls into the sorting area, it undergoes non-axial rotation due to one end being blocked by the lifted sorting plate 31. The angle of non-axial rotation of the paper tube is sufficient to cause it to deviate from its original rolling path and enter the sorting area. The sorting area is designed outside or below the slide rail 11 to receive the sorted paper tubes. Once the target paper tube is successfully sorted, the second drive unit 52 quickly resets the sorting plate 31 below the contact surface of the slide rail 11. This ensures the sorting plate 31 resets quickly to avoid affecting the normal rolling of subsequent paper tubes.

[0061] According to the scheme of the present disclosure embodiment, the sorting mechanism 30 realizes the sorting of unqualified paper tubes through the rapid movement of the second drive device 52 and the sorting plate 31, ensuring the efficiency, accuracy and stability of the detection process, while reducing interference with qualified paper tubes and improving production efficiency and product quality.

[0062] In one embodiment, the slide rail 11 at the location of the sorting area is provided with an outward expansion 14, and the side plate 11a of the outward expansion 14 is bent outward.

[0063] In this embodiment, the bending angle and length of the side plate 11a are designed according to the size and rolling path of the paper tube to ensure that the paper tube can pass smoothly through the sorting area. The design of the outward expansion 14 increases the distance between the pair of slide rails 11, providing more space for the paper tube to rotate radially during the sorting process. The design of the outward expansion 14 allows the paper tube to rotate radially during the sorting process, avoiding the paper tube getting stuck between the slide rails 11 due to insufficient spacing between the side plates 11a.

[0064] In another example, the angle between the sorting plate 31 and the slide rail 11 after the sorting plate 31 is raised can be less than 60°. This allows the end of the target paper tube that contacts the sorting plate 31 to not be blocked and stop, but to move upwards along the slide rail 11 due to the angle between the sorting plate 31 and the slide rail 11, while the other end continues to move downstream along the slide rail 11, resulting in movement in multiple directions. In this way, since one end of the target paper tube moves upwards and is higher than the side plate 11a, the target paper tube will not be stuck by the side plate 11a, and the sorting area does not need to be provided with the outer extension 14.

[0065] According to the scheme of the present disclosure embodiment, the setting of the outer expansion portion 14 ensures that the paper tube can rotate radially smoothly during the sorting process, avoiding the problem of the paper tube getting stuck.

[0066] In one embodiment, the sorting plate 31 is a strip-shaped flat plate, which replaces the bottom plate 11b of the slide rail 11 on one side of the sorting area. The sorting plate 31 has a rotating shaft at one end near the upstream side, and a lever 33 is provided on one side of the rotating shaft. The lever 33 is matched with the output shaft of the second drive device 52.

[0067] In this embodiment, the design of the toggle block 33 allows the output shaft of the second drive device 52 to drive the toggle block 33, thereby causing the sorting plate 31 to rotate. When the detection system identifies a defective paper tube (target paper tube), the second drive device 52 is activated, and the output shaft rotates to drive the toggle block 33, thereby causing the sorting plate 31 to rotate around the axis. The length and rotation angle of the sorting plate 31 can raise one end of the sorting plate 31 above the contact surface of the slide rail 11, blocking the rolling path of the target paper tube.

[0068] Once the target paper tube is successfully sorted, the output shaft of the second drive device 52 rotates in the opposite direction, driving the lever 33 to rotate the sorting plate 31 around the shaft and reset it below the contact surface of the slide rail 11. Alternatively, the output shaft can be disengaged from the lever 33, allowing the sorting plate 31 to reset itself by gravity, with one downstream end of the sorting plate 31 resting on the end of the bottom plate 11b of the downstream slide rail 11.

[0069] According to the scheme of this embodiment, the sorting plate 31 achieves rapid lifting and resetting through the cooperation of the rotating shaft and the push block 33, ensuring the sorting of unqualified paper tubes.

[0070] In one embodiment, the sorting mechanism 30 includes a third drive device 32 connected to a sorting plate 31. The width of the sorting plate 31 is the same as the width of the base plate 11b. The slide rail 11 of the sorting area does not have a base plate 11b. The two ends of the sorting plate 31 abut against the upper and lower bottom plates 11b of the sorting area, respectively, to replace the base plate 11b of the slide rail 11 of the sorting area. The third drive device 32 is used to move the sorting plate 31 in a direction perpendicular to the side plate 11a, so that the sorting plate 31 switches between the inner and outer sides of the side plate 11a.

[0071] In this embodiment, the sorting mechanism 30 includes a third drive device 32, such as a cylinder or motor, for controlling the movement of the sorting plate 31. The sorting plate 31 replaces the bottom plate 11b of the slide rail 11 in the sorting area, providing a support surface for the paper tubes. When the detection system identifies a defective paper tube (target paper tube), the third drive device 32 is activated, driving the sorting plate 31 to translate outward along a direction perpendicular to the side plate 11a, so that the slide rail 11 in the sorting area no longer has a structure to support the paper tubes. After entering the sorting area, the target paper tube loses its support surface and falls directly into the sorting area below the slide rail 11. Once the target paper tube is successfully sorted, the third drive device 32 reinserts the sorting plate 31 into the inner side of the slide rail 11, achieving rapid reset to avoid affecting the normal rolling of subsequent paper tubes.

[0072] It should be noted that, since the spacing of the side plates 11a matches the diameter of the paper tube, the sorting plate 31 only needs to partially enter the inner side of the side plates 11a to support the subsequent defect-free paper tubes, allowing them to slide normally down to the downstream of the conveyor ramp 10. This reduces the minimum spacing between the two paper tubes.

[0073] According to the scheme of this embodiment, the sorting plate 31, controlled by the third driving device 32, can quickly switch between the inner and outer sides of the side plate 11a, realizing the sorting of unqualified paper tubes. The sorting plate 31 replaces the bottom plate 11b of the sorting area, ensuring that the paper tubes can fall directly into the sorting area during the sorting process and quickly reset after sorting, thereby improving the efficiency, accuracy and stability of the detection process.

[0074] The main types of yarn involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include one or more of the following: partially oriented yarns (POY), fully drawn yarns (FDY), and drawn textured yarns (DTY) (or low-elasticity yarn). For example, the specific types of yarn may include polyester partially oriented yarns, polyester fully drawn yarns, polyester drawn yarns, and polyester drawn textured yarns.

[0075] Other components of the paper tube appearance inspection device in the above embodiments can be adopted from various technical solutions that are now and will be known to those skilled in the art, and will not be described in detail here.

[0076] In the description of this specification, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "transverse," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this disclosure and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this disclosure.

[0077] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this disclosure, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0078] In this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a communication connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure according to the specific circumstances.

[0079] In this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0080] The foregoing disclosure provides many different implementations or examples for carrying out different structures of this disclosure. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements have been described above. Of course, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples; such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various implementations and / or arrangements discussed.

[0081] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this disclosure, but the scope of protection of this disclosure is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various variations or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this disclosure, and these should all be included within the scope of protection of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of this disclosure should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A paper tube external inspection device, comprising: The transmission ramp (10) includes a pair of parallel slide rails (11) arranged at a preset interval. Each slide rail (11) includes a contact surface formed by a base plate (11b) extending along the length direction of the slide rail (11) and a vertical plane formed by a side plate (11a). The paper tube (40) to be inspected is fed into one end of the transmission ramp (10) with its axial direction perpendicular to the vertical plane, and is limited by the side plates (11a) of the pair of slide rails (11) to move or roll on the contact surface. The transmission ramp (10) includes a front section (12) located upstream in the transmission direction and a sliding section (13) connected to the front section (12). The appearance inspection mechanism (20) includes a housing (21) and an inspection probe (22). The inspection probe (22) is positioned above the sliding section (13) and facing the slide rail (11) of the sliding section (13). The area in the transmission ramp (10) covered by the detection range of the inspection probe (22) is the inspection area. The housing (21) surrounds the inspection probe (22) and the inspection area. The housing (21) at both ends of the inspection area is provided with an entrance and exit for the paper tube (40) to be inspected to enter and exit. A sorting mechanism (30) is located next to the conveyor ramp (10) downstream of the detection area. The sorting mechanism (30) includes a sorting plate (31) for separating the target paper tube from the slide rail (11) and thus disengaging it from the conveyor ramp (10). The preset spacing is matched with the height of the paper tube (40) to be inspected and is greater than the diameter of the paper tube (40) to be inspected.

2. The paper tube external inspection equipment according to claim 1, wherein, The contact surfaces of a pair of slide rails (11) located in the detection area are provided with a resistance layer (23), the resistance layer (23) having a first coefficient of friction, the first coefficient of friction being greater than the coefficient of friction of the contact surfaces of the slide rails (11), so that the paper tube (40) to be inspected rolls when passing through the detection area; wherein, the length of the detection area is greater than the circumference of the paper tube.

3. The paper tube external inspection device according to claim 1, wherein, The tilt angle between the two ends of the sliding section (13) is greater than the tilt angle of the front section (12).

4. The paper tube external inspection device according to claim 1, wherein, The end of the front section (12) is provided with a blocking mechanism (50), which is used to allow the paper tubes to be inspected (40) to enter the sliding section (13) at intervals.

5. The paper tube external inspection device according to claim 4, wherein, The blocking mechanism (50) includes a telescopic claw and a first driving device. Under the drive of the first driving device, the front end of the telescopic claw probes into the forward direction of the paper tube (40) to be inspected at a preset time interval to block the paper tube (40) to be inspected located in the front section (12) from entering the sliding section (13).

6. The paper tube external inspection device according to claim 4, wherein, The blocking mechanism (50) includes a rocker (51) disposed between a pair of slide rails (11). The rocker (51) includes a first protrusion (51a) located upstream in the transmission direction, a second protrusion (51b) located downstream in the transmission direction, and a middle portion (51c) between the two. The middle portion (51c) is connected to the pair of slide rails (11) via a pivot. The first protrusion (51a) and the second protrusion (51b) swing about the pivot so that the highest point of the first protrusion (51a) or the second protrusion (51b) drops to the plane of the contact surface of the corresponding slide rail (11). The middle portion (51c) can accommodate a paper tube (40) to be inspected. Each time the rocker (51) swings back and forth, it allows a paper tube (40) to be inspected to enter the sliding section (13).

7. The paper tube external inspection device according to claim 6, wherein, The blocking mechanism (50) includes a reset device, which includes a motor and an eccentric wheel connected to the output shaft of the motor. The rocker (51) has a reset rod at its lower part, and the end of the reset rod is suspended on one side of the eccentric wheel. Whenever the eccentric wheel rotates to the target position, it drives the reset rod to move so that the first protrusion (51a) descends.

8. The paper tube external inspection device according to claim 1, wherein, The sorting mechanism (30) includes a second drive device (52) connected to the sorting plate (31), which is located inside any slide rail (11) of the conveying ramp (10). The second drive device (52) is used to quickly lift at least a portion of the sorting plate (31) above the contact surface so that when the target paper tube passes through the sorting area where the sorting mechanism (30) is located, the target paper tube will rotate non-axially because one end of it is blocked by the sorting plate (31).

9. The paper tube external inspection equipment according to claim 8, wherein, The slide rail (11) at the location of the sorting area is provided with an expansion portion (14), and the side plate (11a) of the expansion portion (14) is bent outward.

10. The paper tube external inspection device according to claim 8, wherein, The sorting plate (31) is a strip-shaped flat plate. The sorting plate (31) replaces the bottom plate (11b) of the side slide rail (11) of the sorting area. The sorting plate (31) has a rotating shaft at one end near the upstream end. A lever (33) is provided on one side of the rotating shaft. The lever (33) matches the output shaft of the second drive device (52).

11. The paper tube external inspection device according to claim 1, wherein, The sorting mechanism (30) includes a third drive device (32), which is connected to the sorting plate (31). The width of the sorting plate (31) is the same as the width of the base plate (11b). The slide rail (11) of the sorting area where the sorting mechanism (30) is located does not have a base plate (11b). The two ends of the sorting plate (31) abut against the upper and lower bottom plates (11b) of the sorting area, respectively, to replace the base plate (11b) of the slide rail (11) of the sorting area. The third drive device (32) is used to move the sorting plate (31) in a direction perpendicular to the side plate (11a) so that the sorting plate (31) switches between the inner and outer sides of the side plate (11a).

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